Printed transfer and method of making and using the same



A. J. LAWS PRINTED TRANSFER AND METHOD OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME Filed Feb. 4, 1928 R m m m ATTORNEY5.

Patented ocezs, 1930 PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR J. LAWS, OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO PRINTED TRANSFER AND METHOD OF MAKING AND USING THE Application filed February 4, 1928. Serial No. 251,953.

This invention as indicated relates to printed transfers and a method of making and using the same.

More particularly it comprises the provision of a novel type of printed transfer suitable for application either to transparent or opaque bodies, being thus what may be termed duo-usable, having improved appearance with respect to sharpness of line, and also having greater permanency of structure over transfers now in use. It also includes a method of preparing a printed transfer which will result in a design, the outlines and detail showingof which will be maintained at the maximum degree of sharpness while the transfer will be flexible and free from tendency to crack or separate. It further includes a method of selectively attaching the transfer to a transparent or to an opaque surface. It also includes the provision of a transfer having an opaque or a partially opaque coating whereby the printed matter will be shown to the best effect, particularly when the device is used as a transparency. It is to be understood that the .term print or printing refers to deposition of pigment by means of printing, lithography, or other suitable metho Heretofore it has been the practise to place printed matter upon a celluloid surface, such surface being particularly adaptable to receive a design without causing blurring or distortion of the marginal outlines but in applying a ermanent coating over such printed matter, t ere frequently has been used a coating which has a solvent action upon, the ink and nitrocellulose base whereby the shar ness ofthe design has been modified throng the impregnation of the printed matter through the coating medium. It likewise heretofore has been diflicult to secure the maximum contrast in printed matter particularly in colored designs for the reason that no adequate background could be provided which was to a certain extent 0 aque and at the same time free of danger o cracking or litting and thus marring the appearance 0 the transfer-after a certain period of use.

To obviate the difliculties referred to, I'

ave provided a nitrocellulose base preferably of transparent material adapted to re-' ceive a printed or lithographed design or like matter and to maintain the outlines thereof in sharp unblurred condition, and have added to such design a film or coating of flexible opaque or semi-opaque material which has no solvent action upon the pigment or the nitrocellulose base and which, therefore, maintains the original characteristics of the design in permanently sharp condition. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the-following description set forth in detail a method of making and using a product-exemplifying my invention, such disclosed procedure and product constitutinghowever, but several of various applications of the principle of my invention.

In said annexed drawing: v

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a laminated sheet forming oneform of construction embodying the principle of my invention; and Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view showing'in enlarged detail the position of the base and coatings used in connection with my invention.

As is clearly shown in the drawing, the preferred form of my invention provides for the coating of a sheet of what is known as decalcomania paper, having a paper base 1 provided with a soluble adhesive coating 2, over which is applied a coating of nitrocellulose material'3 preferably in a thin transparent film. Upon this coating is applied the design 4 which may be of -pnnte or lithographed matter applied in substantially the same way that'such designs are applied to ordinary sheets of paper. After'the design. has been. applied, there is placed over the design a coating or film 5 preferably of a varnish such as a combination of suitablg igmentedgums with oils so as to give a big egree of opacity with a maximum flexibility. Such a coating may take various forms but:- it has been found thata satisfactory result is obtained by using standard commercial gum varnish thinned with linseed oil to a freely running solution and pigmented by the addition of either zinc mode or lithopone or equal parts of each in small quantity. The coating solution thus is substantially a white enamel. The transfer thus provided may be used in the usual manner of decalcomania transfers by rendering the exposed coating adhesive or by removing the paper base through immersion of the transfer in water until the soluble adhesive immediately adjacent the paper becomes dissolved and then sliding such transfer from the paper and allowing the adhesive beneath the nitrocellulose base to engage the surface to which the transfer is to be applied. The last mentioned operation is preferably used in con nection with the application of the transfer to a window or other' sheet of glass, the deof the transfer and removing the same from the adjacent nitrocellulose film or coating.

' The. varnish coating may also be provided with a coating or film of suitable water soluble adhesive 6 which will serve as the attaching medium for application to an opaque object.

The method of making the transfers referred to comprises the steps of coating a suitable sheet such as decalcomania paper with a thin film preferably of transparent nitrocellulose and using the surface thus provided as a base to receive a printed, litho graphed or similar design and thereafter applying over such design a thin film or coat ing of varnish, such varnish preferably being suitably pigmented and combining a high degree of opacity with a high degree of flexibility. The desired effect is one closely a proximating a white enamel and this may e attained through combining a penetrating oil which is not opaquewith a pigmented gum varnish having a high degree of opacity but ordinarily highly sensitive to injury through cracking, checking, and the like, A mixture of a pigmented gum varnish with suitable oils combines opacity with toughness and flexibility which, when applied, adheres closely to the nitrocellulose coating and provides a transfer exhibiting unusual durability and permanency of structure and displaying the design in sharp contrast against the opaque background. As has been indicated,

the opaque background is preferably white but for various purposes, it will be understood, coatings variously tinted may be found to be desirable, and such changes in color may be readily provided for.

The method of using the transfer has been indicated above in connection with opaque objects or with glass. It should be stated, however, that when transfers are supplied with a soluble adhesive coating on the paper base and with a similar coatin upon the opaque varnish coating that t rough im: mersion of the transfer for sixt or seventy seconds in water, it becomes avai able at once for selective application either to a glass or to an opaque surface, the nitrocellulose coating being secured against a glass surface, and the varnish coating against an opaque surface'by means of the adjacent coating of soluble adhesive.

Other forms may be employed embodfying the features of my invention instead 0 the one here explained, change being made in the 3 form or construction, provided the elements stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated elements be employed, whether used or produced b my preferred method or by others embo ying steps equivalent to those stated in the following claims.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctl claim as my invention:

-1. .1 method of producing transfers which comprises coating a removable base sheet with a watersoluble substance, applying to the coated surface a nitrocellulose material, printing upon said material and coating said film and printed matter with a second solution having no' solvent properties with respect to either said first hn or printed matter to cause said ink pigments to be engaged between the transparent first coating and the substantially opaque second coating, said second coating forming a permanent part of said transfer.

2. An article of the character described, having in combination a removable base sheet, a coating of soluble adhesive upon one surface of said sheet, a nitrocellulose coating 7 upon said soluble adhesive coating, a printe design upon said nitrocellulose coating and a protectlve coating" non-solvent with respect to said nitrocellulose coating and design applied over said design and nitrocellulose coating forming a permanent art of the transfer.

3.- An article of the c aracter described, havin in combination a removable base sheet, a coating of soluble adhesive upon one surface of said sheet, a nitrocellulose coatin said soluble adhesive coating, a printe design upon said nitrocellulose coating, and a protective coating non-solvent with respect to said nitrocellulose coating and design applied over said desi and nitrocellulose coating, said last-name coating com rising an opaque highly flexible composition fbrming a permanent part of the transfer.

4. A. transfer print comprising a base sheet having a removable coating forming ,filmthereon which is insoluble in water, a desi formed by pigments in superficial surfaceknit contact with said film surface and a second coating over said first-mentioned coating and not acting as a solvent with reference to said first coating to enclose. the said design between said coatings, said second coating forming a permanent part of said transfer.

transfer print comprising a design formed of ink pigments interposed between a film of nitrocellulose material and a film having no s'olvent properties with respect to i said nitrocellulose material, said film forming a permanent art of said transfer.

6. A trans er print comprising a design formed of ink pigments interposed between a.

s film of nitrocellulose material and a film hav- I ing no solvent properties with respect to said nitrocellulose material, and having adhesive characteristics with respect to said pigment and first coating, said film forming a permanent part of said transfer.

7. A transfer print comprising a design v formed of ink pigments inter osed between a film of nitrocellulose material and a film having no solvent properties with respect to said nitrocellulose material, and havin adhesive characteristics with respect to sai pigment and first coating, said last-named coating having a high degree of o acit and flexibility, said second coating orming a permanent part of said transfer.

by me this 27th day of January,

ARTHUR J. LAWS.

, Signed 1928. 

